Spark arrester for locomotives



P 6, 1932- M. F. BROWN 1,875,846

SPARK ARRESTER FOR LOCOMOTIVES Filed May 21. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l ITLQJ.

g'wuenioz Manm FBrown Sept. 6, 19321 BROWN 1,875,846

SPARK ARRESTER FOR LOCOMOTIVES Filed May 21, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 "Fig/i gwve'ntoz aifmFBmwn P'atented Sept. 6, 1932 UNITED STATES MARTIN 1.BROWN, 01! ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA smnx annnsrnn non Locomo'rrvEsApplication filed May 21,

My invention relates to an improvement in what are generally termedspark arresters, for use on steam locomotives. I have found that glowingcinders, if properly handled and separated from the draft, may bequenched, and then may be permitted to be discharged from the stack,having been ground up in the separator into fine particles, which areusually completely extinguished, and which, if not extinguished, willnot have the capacity to start a fire upon their being discharged.

It is the object of my present invention, then, to provide a sparkarrester or separator which will automatically cause the sparks to befirst separated from the draft, to be held adjacent the zone ofinfluence of the draft, then ground into fine particles and forcedwithin the influence of the draft, and then discharged from the stack,thus automatically keeping the separator cleaned out, and obviating anypossibility of failure due to inability or failure of the clean-outmechanism to discharge the cinders from the separator.

Another object is to provide means whereby a tangential movement of thedraft and cinders within the separator is insured, and whereby reversetangential movement is prevented. s

Another object is to provide means whereby the area of the draft openingbeneath the lower end of the stack extension may be adjusted, andwhereby its height with respect to the bottom of theseparator chambermay I be varied.

A further obiect is to insure the separation of the cinders beingwhirled around within the separator from the fresh gases entering theseparator.

Other obfects, and especially such as relate moreparticularly tomechanical details and arrangements, may be discovered from a study ofthe. attached drawings, wherein my invention is embodied in a preferredform,

1930. Serial No. 454,339.

of this specification, and of the claims which terminate the same,wherein are defined those points of novelty which are embodied in thpresent invention.

Figure 1 is a section on a horizontal plane .50 through a locomotivesmoke box and my sep- 4 arator installed therein, taken at about theaxis of the boiler. Figure 2 is a front elevation of the smoke box and'my' separator in a typical installation, the front end being removed.Figure 3 is a plan view of my device, the smoke box being shown insection. Figure 4 is a part elevation and part axial section through theseparator, the smoke box a being shown in section. v y

The design of the boiler and smoke box, I with accessory parts, islargely immaterial, and I have therefore shown the same in as sociationwith a typical installation, where- 35 in the smoke box 9 is defined bya cylindrical plate 90 secured to the front end of the boiler 91, thetubes 92, received in the tube plate 93, admitting the products ofcombustion into the smoke box 9, the front endof which 7c is closed by aplate 94. In the particular smoke box lllustrated, the plate 90 isreduced at the top and both sides, as indicated by the saddle 95, and inthis articular installation, a feed-water heater not shown) is seat-' 75ed in this saddle. This arrangement, of course, has no essentialconnection with my separator, but illustrates how a separator ofsuflicient capacity may be incorporated in a smoke box thus restrictedin available vol-e0 Discharging within the smoke box 9 is an exhaustnozzle 8, and axially aligned therewith is a downward extension 7forming, in eifect, part of the smokedischarge stack as for a purposewhich will appear hereafter, a sleeve 71 is secured upon the lower endof the extension 7, .and is adjustable vertically thereon.

Surrounding the extension 7 and the end of the nozzle 8, and enclosingboth, is a separator, generally designated by the numeral 1, andconsisting of a frusto-oonical upper portion 10, and a similar invertedfrustoconical lower portion 11. The upper portion is relatively high andthe lower portion shallow, and differs from ordinary separators in thatit is formed with a shallow or flat bottom 12. The slope of the wall ofthe lower portion 11 is quite pronounced, and at the joint between theupper and lower portions of the separator 1 there is a line of greatestdiameter, spaced somewhat above the bottom wall 12 and at about theupper end of the nozzle 8, but below the lower end of the stackextension 7.

At its forward end the separator is provided with an inlet opening 13; Iprefer that this inlet be located wholly in the upper portion 10. Toassist in defining this opening, and in starting the draft thereinto ina tangential direction, I prefer that the walls leading to and definingthe inlet-13 may be extended outwardly, as is indicated at 14 and 15, toprovide a tangential inlet conduit. To prevent the draft from startingin the opposite direction, and to deflect all drafts in the properdirection, I may provide a baflie or baflies 16 between the two sides 14and 15, this baffle being placed edgewise to the proper direction of thedraft, so as to impede it the least, yet to prevent any cross or counterdraft. I may also provide an apron 17 extending inwardly from the outerend of the inlet conduit 13 towards the center of'the separator 1, andover the lower portion thereof at the inlet.

Between the end of the nozzle 8 and the sidewall 11, and projectingupwardly from the bottom 12 of the lower portion is a two part collar 18and 18'. The portion 18' is adjustable relative to the portion 18 tovary the combined height thereof, and to cooperate with the collar 71previously mentioned, in varying the height and area of the spacebetween, through which the draft passes to reach the stack 70.

Since the extension wall 15, at the leading side of the inlet opening13, is necessarily short, I prefer that an extension 19 of somewhatgreater curvature than the side wall 10 of the separator be provided atthe junction of this baffle 15 with the side wall, this portion 19serving to'deflect the gases slightly inwardly from the inlet opening,to prevent their passing out therefrom,- and to provide an eddy orsuction which assists in drawing the gases into the inlet opening 13 atthis point.

The separator is supported in an suitable way, as from the stackextension for instance. The smoke box 9 is divided into two portions bya transverse vertical partition 2, which extends from side to side ofthe I smoke box and from the top down to and including the separator 1,but preferably not materially therebeneath. There is thus left a draftopening 20 beneath the lower edge of the partition 2, through which thedraft must pass to reach the forwardly directed inlet opening 13 of theseparator. This partition 2 may assist in supporting the separator, asmay also the exhaust nozzle 8.

The draft from the flues 92, with the entrained cinders and glowingcoals, passes into the smoke box 9 and thence through the opening 20beneath and around the separator 1, until it reaches the front end ofthe smoke box and is deflected to enter the inlet 13 of the separator.Entering the separator, it is given a definite tangential direction bythe inlet conduit consisting of the walls 1 1 and 15, and by the baffle16. Being at high velocity, it throws the entrained cinders, coals andother particles, with considerable force against the walls of theseparator and against each other. They whirl around rapidly within theseparator chamber, the heavier particles moving to the outside, andseeking the line of greatest diameter. They are rapidly ground intosmall particles by this abrasive action, and slip down over the inclinedside 11 and the shallow bottom 12, being assisted in this movement bygravity and by the pressure of fresh masses of larger particles, untilthey finally come within the zone of influence of the draft, whichpasses between the collars 71 and 18 and up the stack extension 7. Thelarger particles, being farther out from the opening than the smallerground-up particles, and being of greater mass, are not within theinfluence of this draft, and consequently, are not expelled throughthestack, but the smaller particles, moving inwardly toward the centerof thefseparator over the shallow bottom, come within the zone ofinfluence of the draft, and are removed continuously and automaticallythrough the stack.

By this time, however, the coals have been largely extinguished, partlyby reason of the abrasive action and partly by reason of the time theyhave been in the separator, and have been partially consumed. They arelargely dead when they pass out of the stack, so that they can cause noharm, but if occasionally a live spark passes out at the top of thestack, it is of such small mass that it will either be extinguishedbefore it strikes the ground or will be of such slight mass and lowtemperature that it will not have the capacity to start fires, even inextremely dry weather. and under most favorable conditions.

- By regulation of the distances between the collars 71 and 18, and byregulation of the height of this draft opening between them above thebottom 12, the zone of influence of the draft through this opening maybe controlled and varied, and in this way the de amp gree ofextinguishment of sparks and the size of the particles to be expelledmay, to a certain extent, be controlled.

What I claim as my invention is:-.-

1. In combination with a stack extension and an associated nozzlealigned therewith but spaced below the same for discharging a draftinducing column up said stack extension, a separator casing surroundingthe associated ends of said stack extension and nozzle, and meansproviding an inlet opening for said casing with its bottom end extendinginto a plane below that of said stack extension for directing theincoming products of combustion tangentially toward one side of thecasing in a path outside the draft inducing column discharged by thenozzle.

2. In combination with a stack extension and an associated nozzlealigned therewith but spaced below the same for discharging a draftinducing column up said stack extension, a separator casing surroundingthe associated ends of said stack extension and nozzle, means providingan inlet opening for said casing with its bottom end extending into aplane below that of the stack extension for directing the incomingproducts of combustion tangentially toward one side of the casing in apath outside the draft inducing column discharged by the nozzle and adeflector disposed in said inlet opening for assisting in directing saidincoming products of combustion toward said side of the casing.

3. In combinationwith a stack extension and an associated nozzle alignedtherewith but spaced below the same for discharging a draft inducingcolumn up said stack ex tension, a separator casing surrounding theassociated ends of said stack extension and nozzle, means providing aninlet opening for said casing with its bottom end extending into a planebelow that of the stack extension for directing the incoming products ofcombustion tangentially toward one side of the casing in a path outsidethe draft inducing column discharged by the nozzle, and means supportedfrom the casing for determining the spacing between said nozzle andstack extension and the axial length of the effective zone of draft withrespect to said inlet.

4. In combination with a stack extension and an associated nozzlealigned therewith but spaced below the same for discharging a draftinducing column up the stack extension, a separator casing surroundingsaid stack extension and nozzle, said casing having a diameter greaterthan the said stack extension so that it is spaced therefrom, and meansproviding an inlet opening for said casing arranged tangentially withrespect to the axis of the stack. extension and having its bottom endextending into a plane below that of said stack extension for directingthe incoming products of combustion to ward 'one side of the casing in apath passing outside said draft inducing column.

5. In combination with a smoke box shell, asmoke stack extension and anassociated nozzle arranged in said shell for discharging a draftinducing column up the stack extension, a separator casing in said shelland surrounding portions of said extension and nozzle disposed withinthe shell, means providing an inlet opening at the front of the casingwith its bottom end extending into a plane below that of said stackextension for directing the incoming products of combustion toward oneside of said casing in a path passing outside the draft inducing columndischarged by the nozzle, and a bafiledisposed between said shell andcasing to the rear of said inlet opening, said baffle terminating shortof the bottom of the shell.

6. In combination with a stack extension and an associated nozzle alined therewith but spaced below the same or discharglng -a draft inducingcolumn up said stack extension, a separator casing surrounding theassociated ends of sa1d stack extension and nozzle, and which casingcomprises top and bottom oppositely disposed truncated casing partsconnected together at their ends of greatest diameter, and meansassociated with the top truncated casing part and extending the fullaxial length of said casing part for directing the incoming products ofcombustion toward oneside of the casing in a path outside the draftinducing column discharged by the nozzle, the bottom end of said inletopening extending into a plane below that of the bottom of the stackextension.

7. In combination with a stack extension and an associated nozzlealigned therewith but spaced below the same for discharging a draftinducing column up said stack extension, a separator casing surroundingthe associated ends of said stack extension and nozzle, and which casingcomprises top and bottom oppositely disposed truncated casing partsconnected together at their ends of greatest diameter, means associatedwith the top truncated casing part and extending substantially the fullaxial length thereo pro viding an inlet opening for said casing fordirecting the incoming products of combustion toward one side of thecasing in a path outside the draft inducing column discharged by thenozzle, and means supported from the bottom truncated part of the casingfor determining the axial length of the efiective zone of draft causedby said column discharged by the nozzle.

8. In combination with the exhaust nozzle of a locomotive and a downwardextension of the stack aligned therewith, a separator casing having atop portion with its walls disposed in the surface of a conical frustum,and -a like'bottom portion joined to the top outer wall and the exhaustnozzle, to about the level of the line of greatest diameter, but spacedfrom the end of the stack extension.

9. In combination with the exhaust nozzle.

of a locomotive and a downward extension of the stack aligned therewith,a separator casing having a top portion with its" walls disposed in thesurface of a conical frustum, and a like bottom portion joined to thetop portion along a line of greatest diameter near the bottom wall ofthe separator, said separator enclosing the bottom end of the stackextension and the top of the exhaust nozzle and the gap therebetween,and said separator having a tangentially disposed side inlet, the wallsof the upper and lower portions of the casing being continuous exceptfor the inlet opening, and a baffle between the sides of the inletopening, and placed edgewise to the tangentially entering draft.

10. In combination with the exhaust nozzle of a locomotive and adownward extension of the stack aligned therewith, a separator tasinghaving a top portion with its walls disposed in the surface of a conicalfrustum, and a like bottom portion joined to the top portion along aline of greatest diameter near the bottom wall of the separator, saidseparator enclosing the bottom end of the stack extension and the top ofthe exhaust nozzle and the gap therebetween, and said separator having atangentially disposed side inlet, the walls of the upper and lowerportions of the casing being continuous except for the inlet opening andexternal baifles defining a tangential inlet conduit leading to saidside opening.

11. In combination with the exhaust nozzle of a locomotive and adownward extension of the stack aligned therewith, a separator casinghaving a top portion with its walls disposed in the surface of a conicalfrustum, and a like bottom portion joined to the top portion along aline of greatest diameter near the bottom wall of the separator, saidseparator enclosing the bottom end of the stack extension and the top ofthe exhaust nozzle and the gap therebetween, and said separator having atangentially disposed side inlet, the walls of the upper and lowerportions of the casing being continuous except for the inlet opening andexternal baflles defining a tan gential inlet conduit leading to saidside opening, and an internal baflle curved inwardly from the generalcurvature of the separator walls, from a point adjacent the leading edgeof the inlet opening, to such opening.

12. In combination with the exhaust nozzle of a locomotive and adownward extension of the stack aligned therewith and spaced there: fromto leave a draft gap, a continuous cas ing surrounding the nozzle andstack extension and having a shallow bottom disposed sufiiciently closeto the gap mentioned to be within the zone of influence of drafttherethrough, and said casing having an entrance opening only, means toinitiate a whirling movement of gases within the casing, the gases andcinders, when the latter are small enough to be entrained in the draftup the stack, being discharged through the stack, and a circular collarspaced from and surrounding the nozzle, and extending upward from thebottom of the casing to a point within the zone of influence of thedraft up the stack, the collar being of greater diameter than the stackextension, and terminating therebelow.

13. In combination with the exhaust nozzle of a locomotive and adownward extension of the stack aligned therewith and spaced therefromto leave a draft gap, a continuous casing surrounding the nozzle andstack extension and having a shallow bottom disposed sufliciently closeto the gap mentioned to be within the zone of influence of draft therethrough, and said casing having an entrance opening only, means toinitiate a whirling movement of gases within the casing, the gases andcinders, when the latter are small enough to be entrained in the draftup the stack, being discharged through the stack, a circular collarspaced from and surrounding the nozzle, and extending upward'from thebottom of the casing to a point within the zone of influence of thedraft up the stack, thecollar being of greater diameter than the stackextension, and terminating therebelow, and means for adjusting theheight of the space therebetween relativeto the separator bottom.

14. In combination with the exhaust nozzle of a locomotive and adownward extension of the stack aligned therewith and spaced therefromto leave a draft gap, a substantially continuous casing surrounding thenozzle and stack extension and having a bottom portion disposedsufficiently close to the gap mentioned to be within the zone ofinfluence of the draft therethrough, said casing having a relativelylarge entrance opening, means to tially continuous wall of generallyannular character disposed with its axis vertical and adapted tosurround the gap between, the lower end of the stack and the upper endof 5 the exhaust nozzle, said casing being formed with inlet meansdisposed to initiate whirl- 'ing of the gases and entrained cinders,said parts being formed and positioned to arrest the downward movementof the cinders at a [0 point within the influence of the draft adjacentsaid gap whereby the cinders will be continuously discharged through thestack.

Signed at St. Paul, Ramsey County, Mina nesota, this 19th day of May,1930. 15 MARTIN F. BROWN.

